Pride marches have been banned in the country since early 2025, when Hungary passed a law restricting the freedom of assembly by connecting it to a previous law from 2021 prohibiting children seeing public portrayal of ‘divergence from self-identity corresponding to sex at birth, sex change or homosexuality’.

Politically, Orban’s inability to stop Pride from going ahead risks projecting weakness at a time when his Fidesz party is trailing in the polls. However, a heavy-handed police response could also deepen public dissatisfaction and further undermine his support.